Highgate School

Pre-Prep Year 2 pupils have had an interesting first week back with a trip to the school’s archive for an interactive workshop. Our Archivist, Mrs Gross explained what the archives are and why we keep them, and showed historic artefacts from different periods, including a war-time gas mask and the Highgate school crest. The children asked lots of questions and enjoyed looking at photo albums and handling objects from times gone by.

Last term, Year 7 and 8 pupils were invited to submit a photograph for the Lower School Photography Competition in the Art department. Over 85 entries came in, with a wide range of responses to the theme of Autumn.

Congratulations to Lucas in Year 7 (log in woods) and Grace in Year 8 (red leaves) for their beautiful winning photographs and to the highly commended entries by Year 7's Cordy, Kasra, Sofia and Year 8's Charlie, Dasha, Ethan.

Our first Highgate Voices blog of 2025 is with Sam, Year 13 Pupil Deputy Head who is a wellbeing champion for the Senior School. As well as studying for his A levels, Sam and his peers have been instrumental in mental health training and delivering assemblies to younger pupils.

Read Sam's interview here:

Five minutes with: Sam, Pupil Deputy Head (Wellbeing) | Highgate School Y13 pupil Sam champions the importance of mental health and wellbeing so that it becomes a normalized part of every pupil’s school experience

We are ending the year on a high note with our school listed in the Top 10 independent schools in London for academic excellence and 13th in the Top 100 independent schools in the UK.

The lists are compiled by The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide, based on GCSE and A Level results taken in 2024. Full details can be found on The Sunday Times website with a subscription.

The school has been taking part in festive activities in the last week of term. Pre-Prep pupils performed in their Winter Lights show reflecting the different faiths in our school community and Reception celebrated the end of their first term at school with a song and dance tribute to penguins.

Junior School pupils embraced the creativity of festive hats with a line-up of decorative headwear and took part in a carol service at St Michael's church. Senior School and Sixth Form pupils busked for charity, the choirs sang beautifully and the Drama production of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was stunning.

Now is your time to rest and have fun with your family and friends - wishing you all a very happy holiday. 🎄

As the school closes for the break, our Head, Adam Pettitt's last blog of 2024 reflects on our recent ISI report and why Highgate teaches students to be academically independent, so they see challenge as an enjoyable and valuable aspect of their learning.

Read his blog here:

(An) Awesome Arsenal | Highgate School The Head, Adam Pettitt, explores Highgate's balance of risk taking and resilience in his last blog of the year

Our final Friday High Five 🖐️ of 2024 goes to Year 8 pupils Alice, Sarah, Amina and Fei who have won the CyberFirst Girls competition in the independent schools category. The team will receive their award next March at a ceremony at Jodrell Bank, the world-leading science research institute.

Read more in our news story:

CyberFirst Winners | Highgate School Four Highgate pupils from Y8 have won the 2024/25 CyberFirst Girls Competition, run by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre

This school archive photograph shows pupils and staff enjoying Christmas celebrations at Cordell House in December 1951. 73 years later, our Catering team dished up a delicious festive lunch for everyone to enjoy together before the end of term.

Our first carol service of the season was held in the magnificent setting of St Mark's, Dalston on Sunday. 130 singers performed from our Chapel Choir and Chorale, with pupils from Year 3 to 13, and Organ pupils played a warm up recital.

Tonight's carol service takes place in St Michael's, Highgate from 7.30pm - all welcome.

Our Senior School Music pupils have some performances coming up in the next week to help get you into the festive mood - open to all.

4pm, Sunday 8 December - Carol Service at St Mark’s Church, Dalston
7.30pm, Tuesday 10 December - Carol Service at St Michael’s Church, Highgate
6.30pm, Wednesday 11 December - Highgate Society Carols in Pond Square, Highgate accompanied by Brass players.

As part of our community partnerships, staff from our Design Technology and Engineering department have been teaching skills to Harington students, a local charity that supports young adults with learning differences to develop life skills.

Harington students have been designing and making sustainable festive decorations in our school workshop to sell at the charity's Christmas Fair this Saturday 7 December - proceeds from purchases will go towards Harington's important work. The Fair is open from 10am-2pm at Cholmeley Park, N6 5AD - all welcome.

Find out more in our news story:
https://hubs.la/Q02-HMXZ0